Harrogate Town 0 Guiseley 0

Fifth-placed Guiseley were forced to settle for a draw in last night’s Blue Square Bet North derby by a battling Harrogate Town.

It took the Lions a while to create the first chance and when it came Simon Baldry headed over from Warren Payton’s corner midway through the first half.

Liam Needham was on the end of at least three good opportunities the visitors fashioned before the break but it was Gavin Rothery who came closest with a 42nd-minute shot that struck the bar.

In the second period, a Rothery header, following a Payton free-kick, and a late shot from Needham were saved by the home keeper. Other chances failed to hit the target but Town had a deflected shot that struck Guiseley keeper Steven Drench’s crossbar as the game finished goalless.

Press spokesman Stuart Allen said: “We were thin on the ground with a few players missing but it was still a strong side.

“Harrogate defended well to be fair and worked really hard in every area of the pitch throughout the game.”

With Nicky Law’s Alfreton Town, who are title favourites, suffering a defeat and fellow promotion rivals Boston United being held to a home draw, it was a missed opportunity for the Lions.